Electric lamp receptacle



Feb. 23, 1932. .R. A. MILLERMASTER 1,345,447

ELECTRIC LAMP REGEPTACLE |Fi1ed Feb. 10, 1930 INVENTOR. WA. mm

A TTORNEY Patented Feb. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BALI-PH A.MrLL nmAs'rEn, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR iro cUrLER- HAMMER,INo., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE ELECTRIC LAMPRECEPTAGLE Application filed February 10, 1980'. Serial No. 427,247.

This invention relates to improvements in electric lamp receptacles,such as are attached to metal signs or the like.

In many instances it is desirable to enclose the rear face of theindividual. lamp receptacles by means of separate insulating covermembers whereby the terminals and wiring connectionsare insulated andprotected from the corrosive action of weathering, while at the sametime giving a more finished appearance to the receptacle.

It has been proposed to provide a center contact securing screwsufficiently long to project beyond the rear face of the insulating baseto take into a nut embedded in or carried by a suitable cover member.However, if it is desired to use the receptacle without the covermember, it is extremely objectionable to have such a live part projectbeyond the surface of the receptacle. On the other hand the substitutionof a short screw for the long screw requires additional manufacturingoperations, and also involves the production of two different types ofreceptacles.

An object of my invention is to overcome the aforementioned difiicultiesby embedding a securing or attaching screw within a cover member, saidsecuring screw being adapted for cooperation with a tapped opening inone of the terminal members associated with the receptacle. 1

Another object is to provide novel and improved fastening meansfacilitating assembly and disassembly of the screw shell contact withrespect to its terminal yoke.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of my invention,which will now be described, it being understood that the embodimentillustrated is susceptible of modification withoutdeparting from thescope of the appended claims.

In thedrawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sec tional view, on the line 11of Fig. 3, showing a lamp socket or receptacle embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view on the line 2-2 0 Fig. 3.

Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, bottom and top plan views of thereceptacle.

Figp5 is a perspective ,view of the cover member shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and 1 F ig 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 6 of Fig. i 3

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a molded insulating basewhich is provided on the rear face thereof with two parallel grooves 11and 12 for theaccommodation of line wires, said basealso having twoslightly deeper depressions to receive with a rather snug fit theterminal members 13 and 14. The terminal member 13 is of substantiallyrectangular shape, and is provided with the usual binding screw 15adjacent to one end thereon The terminal member 14 is preferably ofyoke-shape, the two arms 16 and 17 of which are disposed on oppositesides of one end of terminalmember lii member 14 being also providedwith a binding screw 18. Suitable recesses are provided in base 10 toaccommodate or provide clearance for the shanks of binding screws 15 and18.

As best shown in Figs. 3 and 6 an eyelet 19 isemployed to rigidly andpermanently secure terminal member 14 to base 10, said eyelet having ahead en aging the front face of said base, and a shan portionpenetrating registering openings in said base andarm 16 of terminalmember 14, the endof said shank being spun or riveted over said arm. Itis of advantage to permanently secure terminal member 14 in this manner,thus at all times insuring alinement of the tapped openings in the endsof arms 16 and 17 with the registering openings in base 10 to facilitateas sembly of screw shell 20 with said base. Moreover, if it is desiredto remove the screw shell this operation may be effected withoutdisturbing the proper positioning of member 14, as will be obvious.

The base flange of screw shell 20 is cut away,'as shown in Fig. 4, toprovide clearance for the head of eyelet 19, whereby said head may belocated in the plane of said base flange. Said screw shell is seated ina recess in the front face of base 10, and is secured to said base by apair of screws 21 preferably interposed between the base,

flange of screw shell 20 and the heads of screws 21 to afford a greaterclamping surface than is afforded by the heads of said screws alone andinsuring a good electrical connection between said screw shell and saidscrews.

A relatively wide base extends diametricallyacross the recess or well inthe front face of said base. Screw shell is diametrically slotted tostraddle said rib. Thereflexed end of a resilient center lamp contact 23is seated within a shallow depression formed in the face 7 of rib 24,said contact being secured by a screw 25' which penetrates registeringopenings in said reflexed end and base 10, andtakes'into atapped.opening in the terminal member 13, thus providing an electricalconnection between said center lamp contact and said terminal member.Screw 25 is preferably staked, as indicated at 25 (Fig. 3) topermanently secure the center contact 23 and 1 with the rear surface ofa sheet metal sign plate; or panel 27 'or the like. 'Notches 28,

spaced equidistantly along the circumference of rim 26, are adapted tocooperate with one or more outwardly struck lugs 29, to prevent turningof the receptacle in the opening in I the panel.

A. mounting or clamping ring 30 of insulating material is internallythreaded to cooperatewith the'external thread on screw shell contact 20.An inner portion 31, of reduced diameter, provides a shoulder 32 whichis adapted for clamping engagement I with the front surface of the metalsign plate 27. A gasket 33 of rubber or other resilient or flexiblematerial is preferably interposed between shoulder 32 and said metalsign plate. i i

In Figs. 1, 2 and 5 is shown a circular molded cover member ofinsulating material, said member having a central opening to accommodatethe shank of an attaching screw or bolt 35. Concentric with said openingon the rear face of cover member 34 is a polygonal depression orcounterbore 37 corresponding to the contour of the polygonal head ofmounting screw 35. Said screw is adapted to take into a tapped opening36 base, said terminal member also having opening intermediate saidfirst mentioned (Fig. 3) in terminal member 13, said tapped openingbeing located substantially centrally of the contour of base 10.

As will be apparent the shouldered engagement of the walls of depression37 with the bolt head provides for utilization of the cover member as awrench to facilitate assembly of the latter with respect to thereceptacle. As shown in Fig. 2, the depression 37 is preferablyfilledwith wax 38, or the like, to retain the screw in assembled relation tothecover member.

By reason of the arrangement aforede- V I 1 scribed I may employ thereceptacle as standrib 24 integral with ard either with or without thecover member attached thereto,it being noted'that no live partsprojectoutwardly beyond the bottom face of the base when the cover member isomitted."

While Ihave illustrated one manner of at; taching the screw or bolt tothe cover memfront face thereof, a screw shell lamp contact-I seated insaid recess, a center lamp contact seated in said recess, a terminalmember seated on the rear face of said base in alinement with saidcenter lamp contact, said terminal member having a tapped openingadjacent to each endthereof, one of said openingsbeing adapted toreceivea binding screw, the other of said openings being located substantiallycentrally of the contour of said insulating base, said terminal memberalso havingan opening intermediate said first mentioned tapped openingsadapted to receive a securing element common to said center lamp contactand said terminal member, in combination with an insulating covermember, and

a securing screw carriedby said cover member and having its shankprojecting therefrom, said shank being adapted for cooperativeengagement with said substantially centrally located tapped opening insaid ter-' minal member.

2. An electrical sign receptacle comprising an insulating base having arecess in the front face thereof, a screw shell lamp contact seated insaid recess, a center lamp contact seat ed in said recess,a terminalmember seated on the rear face of said base in alinement with saidcenter lamp contact, said terminal member having a tapped opening adjacent to each end thereof, one of said openings being adapted to receivea binding screw, the other of said openings being located substantiallycentrally of the contour of said insulating an tapped openings adaptedto receive a securing element common to said center lamp contact andsaid terminal member, in combina tion with an insulating cover memberhaving a central opening, a depression concentric with said opening, anda securing element having a threaded shank adapted to penetrate saidcentral opening and having a head adapted to seat in said depression,the threaded shank of said securing element being adapted forcooperative engagement with said centrally located tapped opening in theterminal member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name,

BALPH A. MILLERMASTER.

